Before you dive in head first into building a new swimming pool, it is important to consider the comprehensive value and the true cost of a pool you may buy.
How Does a Pool Affect Home Value?
Most people buy pools compulsively and have little regard for the long-term value that a pool adds to a property. It is wishful thinking that spurs a lot of homeowners to look at the bright side. They take every upgrade as an improvement that increases the value of the home. This is not always the case.
In areas where pools are uncommon or unpopular, especially northern states that face colder weather for longer spans of time, a pool may surprise prospective homeowners and make them feel that the pool is a perk jacking up the price. This may be a perk that they don’t consider they will use much and a poor value. If you live in a neighborhood where everyone has a pool, your house may be the one on the block missing out on the popularity contest and of reduced value.
The type of pool you choose will also make a big difference. In-ground pools with stone paths and all the fancy tiles tend to cost more than a simple above-ground pool that anyone can install. The disadvantage of the above-ground pool is that it can look discordant when you are in the off-season months and unable to hide it.
Why Do People Install Pools?
Pools are a lot of fun for people who like to swim and do so athletically. In southern areas where the hot weather makes a pool a must to cool off after a party and for the kids to play outdoors without overheating, it really doesn’t matter what the costs of installing a pool may be. Owners simply know that they need to own a pool and may need to be careful about the quality of the work done when they contract with a professional to install it.
What are the Costs and Precautions of Owning a Pool?
It is nice to have a pool installer who has a strong reputation in the area and a professional work crew who know all the inside tricks to keep up the health of the pool. You should ask any prospective installer how they can prevent having to resurface the pool and what materials are the best for long-term durability.
The average price for installing a swimming pool currently stands at $22,000. This does not include the national average of the $750 to maintain it annually with repairs, cleaning, and various labors performed during an opening or closing service. Resurfacing a pool can cost you $4,500 or more. You also will pay additional money for the electricity in a heated pool. There are also a variety of filters, chemicals, and accessories that you have to purchase and maintain.
The water itself costs more and more money each year as droughts affect areas like Southern California. In these areas, you may have a pool but find yourself unable to use it. A pool will also increase the monthly payments on your homeowner’s insurance because it increases the risks of liability. If you are the type of person who likes to have drinking parties at the pool, you can also expect those premiums to rise.
While pools are fun in the summer, owners also fail to consider the costs of maintaining the water quality of the pool and all the costs for storing it or maintaining it. In addition to professional cleanings, you will have to pay up to $600 for a quality pool vacuum.
Should You Ultimately Buy a Pool?
This is a personal question that comes down to your expendable income and whether you feel, in all seriousness, that you can make use of the pool. Using the pool at a local gym before you buy a private one of your own and assessing usage is a good method of determining how often you might use your pool.
